Clemens falls short of 300th win once again

DETROIT -- The Clemens family and some very close friends are now planning an unexpected trip to Chicago. They're also scrambling for some tough tickets.

The Rocket misfired again.

Roger Clemens remained one victory shy of career No. 300 when the Detroit Tigers, of all teams, rallied from six runs down Sunday to spoil history.

"We're glad that Roger is going to have to do it somewhere else," Tigers manager Alan Trammell said.

The Yankees salvaged something, however, as Alfonso Soriano and Jorge Posada homered off Steve Sparks in the 17th inning to give New York a 10-9 win.

Clemens' chase of 300 will continue next weekend in Chicago.

The six-time Cy Young award winner is scheduled to start Saturday at Wrigley Field against Cubs ace Kerry Wood.

The Yankees haven't played at Wrigley since the 1938 World Series, and Clemens has never pitched in a game inside the ballpark's ivy-covered walls.

"The family doesn't get together too often on the road, so this is nice for me," said Clemens, who had 60 family members and friends on hand. "And they're getting to see some different ballparks."

Wood lost Sunday for the Cubs, and later found out he'd be pitching in Clemens' next bid for No. 300.

"Super," Wood said, sounding as if he'd hoped Clemens had gotten the milestone out of the way. "So I can't wait until that day comes."

The 40-year-old Clemens lasted six innings against Detroit, leaving with a 8-6 lead and needing just nine outs from his bullpen to become the 21st pitcher with 300 wins.

But the Tigers, baseball's worst team this season, came back from a 7-1 deficit by scoring five runs off Clemens and the Yankees' shaky infield in the fifth. Detroit then tied it in the seventh while the six-time Cy Young award winner watched helplessly.

"You've got a 7-1 lead and Roger on the hill, that's icing on the cake," said David Wells (7-2), who got his 192nd career win in his first relief appearance since 1993.

"It's just a shame because we thought it was in the bag. All the sudden, an error here and there, they got back in the game."

Clemens, who lost to Boston on May 26 in his first crack at No. 300, finished with a no-decision before a disappointed Comerica Park record crowd of 44,095 which came to see something special -- not a rare Detroit comeback.

Clemens was bidding to become the first pitcher to get win No. 300 since 1990 when Nolan Ryan, one his idols, did it. Clemens can still match Ryan, who needed three starts to reach the milestone.

"Not at all," Clemens said when asked if he was disappointed. "There are some guys disappointed inside (the clubhouse). Some of the relievers are a little upset. It will be great to get it over with and move on to something else."

Derek Jeter and Todd Zeile also homered for the Yankees, whose four errors were a season-high.

Wells, who missed a turn in the rotation with a bruised calf, allowed one run and three hits in 5 2-3 innings. He gave up an RBI double to Eric Munson in the 17th before Juan Acevedo, the Tigers' closer last season, got one out for his sixth save.

Soriano opened the 17th with a homer off Sparks (0-2) and one out later, Posada connected to end the longest game at Comerica since it opened three years ago.

Before the Tigers' comeback, Clemens, whose career has been defined by gaudy numbers, appeared to be a lock for initiation in the 300-victory club.

From his first pitch, a 91 mph fastball that Alex Sanchez popped up to short, Clemens looked as if he might dominate the Tigers, who came in batting a major league-low .215.

Clemens allowed just one run and two hits through the first four innings.

But nursing a 7-1 lead and three outs from qualifying for a decision, Clemens and the Yankees' defense unraveled together.

New York made three errors in the fifth while Clemens gave up four straight hits, including a two-run homer to No. 9 hitter Gene Kingsale, who hadn't connected this season.

Jeter and Soriano had consecutive errors in the inning behind Clemens, who complicated matters with his only walk and a wild pitch.

"It was just one of those things," said Jeter, who added that the infield dirt was unusually hard. "It happens. Everything went right for them and everything went wrong for us."

Clemens finished with six strikeouts, and now needs only nine to join Ryan (5,714) and Steve Carlton (4,136) as the only pitchers to reach 4,000.

Clemens was hoping he could end his pursuit of 300, so it doesn't become a distraction for his teammates. Apparently, it already is.

"I think everybody was trying too hard and just didn't get it done," said manager Joe Torre, who lifted Clemens after 107 pitches. "Everybody wants this for Roger."

Clemens stuck to his proven pregame ritual before facing the Tigers. After working out, he quickly showered and on his way out of New York's clubhouse, he stopped to share a word with Hall of Fame slugger Reggie Jackson.

"Glad you're here," Clemens told Jackson.

"Glad to be here," Mr. October said.

So were thousands of Yankees fans, who helped pack Comerica Park, which hasn't had many big crowds or big games since the ballpark opened in 2000.

Fans hung from the iron fence on Adams Street beyond the outfield wall while others gathered on the upper deck of a parking garage to see Clemens pitch.

"I hope the fans enjoyed it, they had to love this game," said Tigers catcher Brandon Inge. "This is near the top when it comes to a game -- you had Roger Clemens going for 300, and after that ended, you basically had 10 more innings of great baseball."

Notes: Clemens has given up a total of 14 runs in his last two starts. The most he's ever allowed in consecutive starts is 15, in June 2000 against Atlanta and the Mets, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. ... Comerica's previous largest crowd was 41,248 on opening day in 2002. ... It was the longest game in Detroit since April 27, 1984, when the Tigers lost to Cleveland in 19 innings.